Description
Pistou Soup is a rustic French vegetable soup brimming with seasonal vegetables, tender beans, and pasta, finished with a vibrant basil-garlic pistou. This hearty Provençal classic is wholesome, fragrant, and perfect for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
For the Soup
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 zucchini, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into pieces
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup small pasta (ditalini or small shells)
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
For the Pistou
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook for 5–6 minutes until softened.
- Add zucchini and garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth. Add cannellini beans, green beans, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until tender.
- Prepare the pistou: In a food processor, blend basil, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan until a thick sauce forms.
- Remove the soup from heat.
- Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and stir a spoonful of pistou into each serving just before eating.
Notes
Traditional pistou does not contain pine nuts like pesto. Add extra vegetables such as potatoes, peas, or spinach depending on the season. Store leftover soup and pistou separately for the freshest flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 690mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 8mg
Keywords: pistou soup, soupe au pistou, french vegetable soup, provençal soup, basil soup recipe
